Healesville Fire Brigade’s First Lieutenant Tom Caldwell looks over the scene of the River Street Fire. Picture: Kath GannawayBy Monique Ebrington
FIVE fires in the Healesville area within the space of a week have sparked firebug concerns among local authorities.
Healesville and Badger Creek CFA units were called to Coronation Park off River Street at 9.30pm last Sunday.
The CFA and police arrived to find a tree on fire. Yarra Junction Police Senior Constable Kevin Hall says that the fire was unlikely to have been started by natural causes and is being treated as suspicious.
“It could be someone careless with a cigarette or it may be purposely lit,” Sen Const Hall said.
“It appears there is no other source of ignition, so it is something that we need to look into.”
In the past week, Healesville CFA has also been called out to fires along Old Healesville Road and has put out two along the Maroondah Highway.
Last Wednesday Healesville CFA also responded to a fire that occurred at noon at Healesville Primary School where a stump had been set on fire.
Healesville CFA’s captain Graeme Bates says that all of the fires have been kept small thanks to quick-thinking passers-by contacting 000.
“We’re pretty lucky because residents and passers-by are calling them in early,” Captain Bates said.
“A fire can grow out of control so fast and become very dangerous. Quick notification allows for a quick response in extinguishing fires before they get too large.”
Lilydale’s Criminal Investigation Unit is looking into the cause of the fires.
